Squares of Somerville: Porter Square

Of all the squares in Somerville I feel like Porter Square, although well-known, tends to get overlooked. It's not seen as the coolest kid at the party. But Porter Square is the steady, always-there-when-you-need-them friend.Yes it's also in Cambridge, but we can lay claim to half of it anyway!

It's kind of like a little slice of the suburbs in the middle of Metro Boston. Of course, for the most part, we live here because we love being in the 'city', but sometimes it's nice to be able to drive, park, and do everything from grocery shop, pick up your prescriptions, hit up the liquor store, and grab dinner or coffee all in one go. Plus there are some great gems here for entertainment as well. If you're looking for a pub with great beer and hearty food, it's here. If you're looking for a relaxing place to get your nails done, you can do that as well. There's also a sweet little bookshop, with a small coffee shop inside that has outdoor seating in the summer. 

Since many folks in the area are familiar with the Square and all the biggies like Shaws, Dunkin, CVS and so on I figured I'd focus on some of the newer and/or lesser-known places. Some not directly in the square but only steps away. They include:

Tavern in the Square: Is it a chain? Yeah. But this is one I actually don't mind. They've got some yummy things on the menu, like risotto fritters, white truffle tater tots, and waffle fries. Besides the fact that it seemed fitting to mention them...you know cause of the whole “Square” theme going on here. Plus they have an OK brunch. It isn't a regular staple in my brunch rotation, but it is worth at least one visit. I think the atmosphere isn't to shabby either, relaxed, plenty of space for a big group, or a nice long bar if you're on you're own and just want a glass of wine while you check out the game on one of their many TV's or scroll through your Facebook feed on your phone.

Porter Square Books:In the age of behemoth bookstores folding and most purchases for books (including print versions) being done online it's nice to see a little oasis of the brick and mortar bookstore still alive and well. This store is small in size, but nonetheless, a fun place to pop in and thumb through shelves of books, pick up a few, and maybe even buy one. They also have a cafe w/ some food and of course coffee, to complete that classic cozy bookstore feeling. Sit outside in the summer months, enjoy an iced coffee, and some fabulous people-watching.

T&J Nail Salon: Located at 93 Elm Street. From what I can tell this is a husband/wife team that runs this salon. It's nothing fancy, but it's quiet, there's never too much of a wait (at least that I've encountered) and it's a great way to end a hard day at work or to hit up before you head downtown for a long day of shopping. They do a good job and for much less than you're going to pay down on Newbury Street! 

Posto:This is sort of on the cusp of Porter and Davis, and it could be argued that it's more a Davis Square location. But I'm gonna go against the grain and call it a Porter Square spot. But maybe I'll feature it in my Davis Square post later too. Seriously, that's how much I like this place. And I'm not alone. Another blogger recently hosted a Mystery Meet here. They have unique pizzas that can be shared, a nice big bowl of bolognese and some I'd-sell-my-own-grandmother-good meatballs as an appetizer. 

Panera:This is nothing special necessarily, but it is brand new and I'm excited for it! It's nice to have a sandwich/salad place like this nearby. Great for a quick stop to pick up something on your way home from work.

Porter Exchange Mall: I can't count the number of times I walked past the little hub of sushi and ramen places and not known what I was missing. I'd heard rumblings of how good it was but I was fooled by the strange location of being in the middle of this non-mall, mall setting surrounded by gyms, City Sports, and banks. But once I finally made the dive and tried one of these restaurants I was hooked. The ramen is hearty, filling, and perfect in winter or summer.

Emack & Bolio’s:Who knew a closet-sized space could be filled with so much cool, creamy deliciousness? The thing I love most about this place is the total impulse buy indulgence this usually is for me. I don't deliberately go to Porter Square and think I'm going to go get ice cream. Instead it's always a fun impulse to indulge in while running errands!

Gift Shops: Alongside CVS and Healthworks are a handful of local artisans and crafters that sell things like cute paintings, jewelry, dish ware and more. It's all homemade and they are set up in sections along side each other so you can easily walk from one vendor to the next. Great for when you want to get a thoughtful, unique gift for someone and not have to go too far or spend too much money to do it. And what better way to support local business?

** Of course there’s also Toad, Christopher’s, Anna’s Taqueria, and more. When you think about how much there is crammed into this little space it’s pretty amazing and pretty great!

Do you visit Porter Square much? What are your thoughts on it? Do you love it, hate it, are indifferent to it? Are there places I didn't mention that you think should have made the list?